Director, Regulatory Legal

The Ark (95988), United Kingdom, London,

Director, Regulatory Legal

About the role

We’re seeking a forward thinking Director of Regulatory Legal to support the ambitious growth of our global payments network.

The successful candidate will be a valued member of a truly global legal team, providing advisory guidance to the global payments team, being the subject matter expert on international payment regulation and laws that impact our growth agenda, and helping the business navigate these. They will leverage their outstanding legal and communication skills, and bring an ability to anticipate and deliver on the needs of an innovative, sophisticated, and fast-paced business to simultaneously manage a wide range of transactions and projects.

As a key strategic partner embedded within the business, you will help to identify risks and solve problems alongside a team of world-class professionals. You will find that the Legal Department is not a “check the box” function but instead, an important voice and strategic partner in all aspects of the business.

What you’ll do

• Drive international expansion for our Global Payments Network by providing strategic and actionable regulatory advice and expertise

• Own our international regulation strategy and delivery roadmap

• Partner closely with Risk and Compliance officers to ensure comprehensive support

• Provide thought and strategic leadership on relevant industry and regulatory developments

• Engage and oversee outside legal counsel as needed in an effective and efficient manner

• Represent with external parties, including customers, regulators, partners, industry trade groups and outside law firms

• Stay abreast of external legal and regulatory developments and expectations that could impact the environment in which Capital One operates, understanding its impact on Capital One's inherent compliance risk

• Provide awareness and training on compliance risk and related matters, specifically around regulatory expectations

What you’ll bring

• Qualified solicitor with 10+ years of post qualification experience

• Significant regulatory experience within the payments industry required; experience engaging with regulators preferred

• Experience working within a financial services environment

• Strong understanding of the payment services regulatory environment within the UK, EU and beyond

• Strong business judgment and analytical skills

• Excellent communication skills, with an ability to clearly communicate compliance risk to stakeholders at all levels across the business and to external stakeholders, including regulators

• A willingness and ability to influence and effectively challenge stakeholders with credibility at all levels business, as well as external stakeholders, including regulators

• Being comfortable balancing trade-offs between risk and returns in order to achieve our business objectives and to support us in effectively managing all compliance legal risks associated with the Capital One

• An ability to build and leverage relevant networks inside and outside the organisation

Where and how you'll work

This is a permanent position based in our London office.

We have a hybrid working model which gives you flexibility to work from our offices and from home.

We’re big on collaboration and connection, so you’ll be based in one of our offices 3 days a week on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

What’s in it for you

• Bring us all this - and you’ll be well rewarded with a role contributing to the roadmap of an organisation committed to transformation

• We offer high performers strong and diverse career progression, investing heavily in developing great people through our Capital One University training programmes (and appropriate external providers)

• Immediate access to our core benefits including pension scheme, bonus, generous holiday entitlement and private medical insurance – with flexible benefits available including season-ticket loans, cycle to work scheme and enhanced parental leave

• Open-plan workspaces and accessible facilities designed to inspire and support you.

• Year after year we’ve been recognised as a great place to work. In 2025, Capital One was ranked 15th in the UK’s Best Workplaces™ list

What you should know about how we recruit

We pride ourselves on hiring the best people, not the same people. Building diverse and inclusive teams is the right thing to do and the smart thing to do. We want to work with top talent: whoever you are, whatever you look like, wherever you come from. We know it’s about what you do, not just what you say. That’s why we make our recruitment process fair and accessible. And we offer benefits that attract people at all ages and stages.

We also partner with organisations including the Women in Finance and Race At Work Charters, Stonewall and upReach to find people from every walk of life and help them thrive with us. We have a whole host of internal networks and support groups you could be involved in, to name a few:

• REACH – Race Equality and Culture Heritage group focuses on representation, retention and engagement for associates from minority ethnic groups and allies

• OutFront – to provide LGBTQ+ support for all associates

• Mind Your Mind – signposting support and promoting positive mental wellbeing for all

• Women in Tech – promoting an inclusive environment in tech

• EmpowHER - network of female associates and allies focusing on developing future leaders, particularly for female talent in our industry

Capital One is committed to diversity in the workplace.

If you require a reasonable adjustment, please contact [email protected] All information will be kept confidential and will only be used for the purpose of applying a reasonable adjustment.

For technical support or questions about Capital One's recruiting process, please send an email to [email protected]

Capital One does not provide, endorse nor guarantee and is not liable for third-party products, services, educational tools or other information available through this site.

Capital One Financial is made up of several different entities. Please note that any position posted in Canada is for Capital One Canada, any position posted in the United Kingdom is for Capital One Europe and any position posted in the Philippines is for Capital One Philippines Service Corp. (COPSSC).

Who We Are

At Capital One, we're building a leading information-based technology company. Still founder-led by Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Richard Fairbank, Capital One is on a mission to help our customers succeed by bringing ingenuity, simplicity, and humanity to banking. We measure our efforts by the success our customers enjoy and the advocacy they exhibit. We are succeeding because they are succeeding.

Guided by our shared values, we thrive in an environment where collaboration and openness are valued. We believe that innovation is powered by perspective and that teamwork and respect for each other lead to superior results. We elevate each other and obsess about doing the right thing. Our associates serve with humility and a deep respect for their responsibility in helping our customers achieve their goals and realize their dreams. Together, we are on a quest to change banking for good.